Ground anchor having assembling structure

ABSTRACT

A ground anchor for erectly supporting a longitudinal member includes a conduit, and an auger member secured to the conduit and having one or more auger blades to engage into ground. A stabilizer cap is engageable onto the conduit and includes one or more teeth to engage into the ground. A sleeve may be engaged between the conduit and the stabilizer cap, and includes a slot to allow the sleeve to engage onto the conduit. The sleeve includes an inner peripheral shoulder to engage with a peripheral swelling of the conduit, and to limit the movement between the conduit and the sleeve and the stabilizer cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a ground anchor, and more particularly to a ground anchor including a number of members or parts to be assembled together and to be received or packaged in a compact storing status for facilitating the storing or transportation purposes thereof.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Various kinds of typical ground anchors have been developed to support longitudinal rods, umbrella, antenna, or the like, and comprise one or more auger blades for being driven into the ground when the helical shaped auger blades cut into the ground as the ground anchors are rotated by the typical installation drivers.

[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,867 to MacKarvich discloses one of the typical ground anchors which includes a stabilizer cap formed integral with the anchor shaft that has the helical shaped auger blades formed thereon. However, the stabilizer cap may not be disengaged from the anchor shaft, and the anchor shaft includes the helical shaped auger blades formed thereon, such that the ground anchor occupies a great volume that is adverse for storing or transportation purposes thereof.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,273 to Kemikem discloses another typical ground anchor which includes a longitudinal support member formed integral with a longitudinal anchor shaft that has the helical shaped auger blades formed thereon. However, the longitudinal support member may not be disengaged from the longitudinal anchor shaft, and the anchor shaft includes the helical shaped auger blades formed thereon, such that the ground anchor includes a great length having the lengths of the longitudinal support member and the longitudinal anchor shaft added together, such that the ground anchor also occupies a great volume that is adverse for storing or transportation purposes thereof.

[0007] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional ground anchors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ground anchor including a number of members or parts that may be easily manufactured and that may be easily assembled together.

[0009] The other objective of the present invention is to provide a ground anchor including a number of members or parts that may be received or packaged in a compact storing status for facilitating the storing or transportation purposes thereof.

[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a ground anchor for erectly supporting a longitudinal member, the ground anchor comprising a conduit including a bore formed therein for receiving and supporting the longitudinal member therein, and including a lower portion, an auger member secured to the lower portion of the conduit, and including at least one auger blade provided thereon for engaging into ground, a stabilizer cap including at least one tooth extended downwardly therefrom to engage into the ground, and engageable onto the conduit, and means for positioning the conduit to the stabilizer cap.

[0011] The auger member includes a stem provided thereon and engaged into the lower portion of the conduit, and a shaft engaged through the stem of the auger member and the conduit, to secure the auger member and the conduit together.

[0012] The conduit includes at least one projection provided thereon, the auger member includes at least one depression formed therein to receive the projection of the conduit, and to prevent the auger member from being rotated relative to the conduit.

[0013] The positioning means includes a sleeve engageable between the conduit and the stabilizer cap. The stabilizer cap includes a cylindrical member provided therein and having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the conduit, to allow the stabilizer cap to engage onto the conduit, the sleeve is received in the cylindrical member of the stabilizer cap.

[0014] The sleeve includes a slot formed therein to allow the sleeve to engage onto the conduit. The sleeve includes a bore formed therein to receive the conduit therein, and at least one rib extended into the bore thereof to engage with the conduit. The sleeve includes an inner peripheral shoulder formed therein, the conduit includes a peripheral swelling extended radially and outwardly therefrom, for engaging into the inner peripheral shoulder of the sleeve, and for limiting a movement of the conduit relative to the sleeve and the stabilizer cap.

[0015] A driver shank may further be provided and engageable into the conduit, to rotate the conduit and the auger member relative to the ground.

[0016] A barrel may further be provided and engageable onto the conduit, and includes a peripheral flange extended radially and inwardly therefrom to engage onto the conduit, and to position the barrel to the conduit. The peripheral flange of the barrel includes an inclined surface formed therein.

[0017] A collar may further be provided and engageable into the barrel and the conduit, and includes a bore formed therein to receive the longitudinal member. The collar includes a slot formed therein to allow the collar to engage onto the conduit. The collar includes at least one rib extended into the bore thereof for engaging with the longitudinal member.

[0018] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ground anchor in accordance with the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the ground anchor;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

[0022]FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the operation of the ground anchor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a ground anchor in accordance with the present invention comprises a conduit 10 including a bore 19 formed therein, and including a lower portion having one or more, such as two concave members or projections 11 extended into the bore 19 thereof, and including a peripheral swelling 13 extended radially and outwardly from the middle portion thereof. Each of the projections 11 of the conduit 10 includes an orifice 12 formed therein to receive a shaft 24 therein.

[0024] An auger member 20 includes a stem 21 formed or provided on one end thereof, such as formed on the upper portion thereof for engaging into the lower portion of the bore 19 of the conduit 10, and includes one or more, such as two depressions 22 formed therein, to receive the projections 11 of the conduit 10, and to prevent the auger member 20 from being rotated relative to the conduit 10. The auger member 20 includes an aperture 23 formed therein and communicating with the depressions 22 thereof.

[0025] The shaft 24 may be engaged through the orifices 12 of the conduit 10, and through the aperture 23 of the auger member 20, in order to secure the auger member 20 to the conduit 10. The engagement of the projections 11 of the conduit 10 into the depressions 22 of the auger member 20 may solidly secure the auger member 20 to the conduit 10, for allowing the auger member 20 to be effectively or forcefully rotated or driven by the conduit 10.

[0026] The auger member 20 includes one or more auger blades 27 formed on the outer peripheral portion thereof, and preferably having different outer diameters, for allowing the auger member 20 to be easily engaged or cut into the ground as the ground anchor or the conduit 10 is rotated or driven by the typical installation drivers. For example, a driver shank 16 (FIG. 2) may be engaged into one or more openings 15 of the conduit 10, in order to rotate the conduit 10 and thus the auger member 20 relative to the ground.

[0027] A barrel 14 may be engaged onto the conduit 10, and includes a peripheral flange 17 extended radially and inwardly therefrom to engage onto the conduit 10, and to position the barrel 14 on top of the conduit 10. The peripheral flange 17 preferably includes a tapered or inclined surface 18 formed therein.

[0028] A collar 50 is engageable into the barrel 14 and the conduit 10, and includes a bore 51 formed therein to receive a longitudinal member 60, such as a post 60 (FIG. 5) that is to be erectly supported by the ground anchor of the present invention, and includes one or more ribs 52, such as longitudinal ribs 52 extended into the bore 51 thereof, to engage with the post 60, and to decrease the contact area with the post 60. The collar 50 includes a slot 53 formed therein for allowing the collar 50 to receive posts 60 of different diameters.

[0029] As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the collar 50 preferably includes a tapered or inclined outer peripheral surface, and preferably includes an upper portion having a greater outer diameter than that of the lower portion thereof, and greater than the inner diameter of the peripheral flange 17 of the barrel 14, for preventing the collar 50 from being moved beyond the barrel 14 and deeply engaged into the conduit 10. The collar 50 preferably includes a peripheral flange 54 extended radially and outwardly from the upper portion thereof to engage with the barrel 14 or the conduit 10, and to prevent the collar 50 from being deeply engaged into the conduit 10.

[0030] A stabilizer cap 30 may further be provided, and includes one or more projections or teeth 31 extended downwardly from the outer peripheral portion thereof, to engage into the ground 80 (FIGS. 4, 5), and includes a cylindrical member 32, such as a cone-shaped cylindrical member 32 provided in the middle portion thereof, and having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameters of the barrel 14 and/or the peripheral swelling 13 of the housing 10, for allowing the cap 30 to be slidably engaged onto the conduit 10.

[0031] A sleeve 40 is engageable into the cylindrical member 32 of the stabilizer cap 30, and includes a bore 41 formed therein to receive the post 60 (FIGS. 4, 5), and includes one or more ribs 42, such as longitudinal ribs 42 extended into the bore 41 thereof, to engage with the post 60, and to decrease the contact area with the post 60. The sleeve 40 includes a slot 43 formed therein for allowing the sleeve 40 to receive posts 60 of different diameters.

[0032] As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sleeve 40 preferably includes a tapered or inclined outer peripheral surface, to engage with the cone-shaped cylindrical member 32 of the stabilizer cap 30, and for allowing the sleeve 40 to be stably supported or retained within the cone-shaped cylindrical member 32 of the stabilizer cap 30.

[0033] The sleeve 40 preferably includes a peripheral flange 44 extended radially and outwardly from the upper portion thereof to engage with the stabilizer cap 30, and to prevent the sleeve 40 from being moved downwardly beyond the cylindrical member 32 of the stabilizer cap 30.

[0034] The sleeve 40 preferably includes an inner peripheral shoulder 47 formed therein, such as formed in the ribs 42, to receive the peripheral swelling 13 of the conduit 10, and to limit the movement of the conduit 10 relative to the stabilizer cap 30 and the sleeve 40, and to prevent the peripheral swelling 13 of the conduit 10 from being moved downwardly beyond the stabilizer cap 30 and the sleeve 40.

[0035] In operation, as shown in FIG. 4, the auger member 20 may first be rotated or engaged into the ground 80 by the typical installation drivers. The stabilizer cap 30 may then be engaged onto the conduit 10, and may engage the teeth 31 thereof into the ground 80. The sleeve 40 may then be engaged onto the conduit 10 and engaged into the cylindrical member 32 of the stabilizer cap 30. The provision of the slot 43 in the sleeve 40 allows the sleeve 40 to be engaged onto the conduit 10 and to be moved beyond the peripheral swelling 13 of the housing 13. The sleeve 40 may thus be used as a positioning device to position the conduit 10 in the stabilizer cap 30.

[0036] The conduit 10 may then be further rotated or driven relative to the ground 80 by the typical installation drivers, in order to further engage the auger member 20 into the ground 80, until the peripheral swelling 13 of the housing 10 is engaged into the inner peripheral shoulder 47 of the sleeve 40, as shown in FIG. 5. The post 60 may thus be stably and erectly supported in the conduit 10.

[0037] It is to be noted that the stabilizer cap 30 and/or the sleeve 40 and/or the collar 50 and/or the barrel 14 are separated from each other and may be separately manufactured, and may thus be received or packaged in a compact storing status for facilitating the storing or transportation purposes thereof.

[0038] Accordingly, the ground anchor in accordance with the present invention includes a number of members or parts having at least the stabilizer cap and/or the sleeve and/or the collar and/or the barrel that may be easily manufactured and that may be easily assembled together, and that may be received or packaged in a compact storing status for facilitating the storing or transportation purposes thereof.

[0039] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. A ground anchor for erectly supporting a longitudinal member, said ground anchor comprising: a conduit including a bore formed therein for receiving and supporting the longitudinal member therein, and including a lower portion, an auger member secured to said lower portion of said conduit, and including at least one auger blade provided thereon for engaging into ground, a stabilizer cap including at least one tooth extended downwardly therefrom to engage into the ground, and engageable onto said conduit, and means for positioning said conduit to said stabilizer cap.
 2. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auger member includes a stem provided thereon and engaged into said lower portion of said conduit, and a shaft engaged through said stem of said auger member and said conduit, to secure said auger member and said conduit together.
 3. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conduit includes at least one projection provided thereon, said auger member includes at least one depression formed therein to receive said at least one projection of said conduit, and to prevent said auger member from being rotated relative to said conduit.
 4. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning means includes a sleeve engageable between said conduit and said stabilizer cap.
 5. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said stabilizer cap includes a cylindrical member provided therein and having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of said conduit, to allow said stabilizer cap to engage onto said conduit, said sleeve is received in said cylindrical member of said stabilizer cap.
 6. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sleeve includes a slot formed therein to allow said sleeve to engage onto said conduit.
 7. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sleeve includes a bore formed therein to receive said conduit therein, and at least one rib extended into said bore thereof to engage with said conduit.
 8. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sleeve includes an inner peripheral shoulder formed therein, said conduit includes a peripheral swelling extended radially and outwardly therefrom, for engaging into said inner peripheral shoulder of said sleeve, and for limiting a movement of said conduit relative to said sleeve and said stabilizer cap.
 9. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a driver shank engageable into said conduit, to rotate said conduit and said auger member relative to the ground.
 10. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a barrel engageable onto said conduit, and including a peripheral flange extended radially and inwardly therefrom to engage onto said conduit, and to position said barrel to said conduit.
 11. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said peripheral flange of said barrel includes an inclined surface formed therein.
 12. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a collar engageable into said barrel and said conduit, and including a bore formed therein to receive the longitudinal member.
 13. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said collar includes a slot formed therein to allow said collar to engage onto said conduit.
 14. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said collar includes a bore formed therein for receiving the longitudinal member, and at least one rib extended into said bore thereof for engaging with the longitudinal member. 